motif

noun

mō-ˈtēf How to pronounce motif (audio)
Definition of motifnext
1
as in theme
a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) the motif of mute figures standing in lonely isolation is a recurrent one in the artist's works

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pattern
a unit of decoration that is repeated all over something (as a fabric) the fabric for the upholstery features a scallop shell motif

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of motif Then again, geometric patterns and fruit and vegetable motifs are a pretty easy sell. — Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026 The fall motifs continue with this pumpkin cocotte that’s perfectly sized at 8 ounces for favorite seasonal soups and bakes. — Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Oct. 2026 Reproducing the motif of a couple posed before a family home became a way of telling stories about migration for artists like Walter Ellison. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Pieces include pendant necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings, all with flower motifs. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for motif
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motif
  1. theme
  2. pattern
  3. topic
  4. design
  5. matter
  6. question
Noun
  • Ultimately, what is driving all of these things is the theme and the emotion underneath it, and that is the thing that everything else needs to spiral out of.
    — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The packaging hits on early internet-era themes as well, with a graphic of a pink Nokia-style phone on the box, for all your Paris Hilton-paparazzi-picture needs.
    — Madison Collins, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of theme
Noun
  • The study also detailed how physicians often change their referral and prescribing patterns after their practices are acquired by hospitals, sometimes requesting imaging or other procedures that are not needed.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Spiced Cream Cheese Bundt Cake Adding pumpkin spice to half the batter before putting the two components together creates a magnificent swirl pattern that your holiday guests will ooh and aah over when cutting into this gorgeous cake.
    — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of pattern
Noun
  • When the Milwaukee Brewers won their first-ever Fall Classic, the Yankees continued to be a topic of conversation.
    — Ryan Morik OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Dartmouth touts itself as the birthplace of AI, saying the field got its start at the school in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1956 when a small group of scientists gathered for a summer research project on the topic.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of topic
Noun
  • Beehive Chief Product Officer Gordie Follin said Frenzy 6 packages Frenzy 8’s core capabilities into a smaller design.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Writing, drawing, music-making—an art form that combines them all is game design.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of design
Noun
  • Beyond criminal matters, the office is involved in other efforts.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But victory is far from assured, and the polling numbers – which can be inaccurate – matter less than Israel’s coalition arithmetic.
    — Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of matter
Noun
  • The Sun enters your 9th House, beginning a month of exploration, study, travel, publishing, culture, and questions that stretch your understanding of the world.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Corn, an eminent scholar of American art, has been thinking about this question for five decades.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of question

Browse Nearby Words

mother wit
motif
motifs
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Cite this Entry

“Motif.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motif. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about motif

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